At the School District of Lancaster, our work is rooted in people. Some are on the front lines in classrooms. Others keep our schools running behind the scenes by making sure students and families have what they need to move forward with confidence. This week, we are proud to highlight someone who does that work with a rare combination of skill, heart, and compassion.
Meet Devon Tremaine Forbes, Child Accounting Technician and a steady presence in Central Records for more than 18 years.
Devon’s story begins in Hartford, Connecticut, before his family moved to Lancaster in 1990 when his father, Roland P. Forbes, senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, was called to lead the congregation. Growing up in a home where people often arrived with nothing shaped his understanding of service in ways that still guide him. “We always had someone staying with us,” Devon says. “My parents opened the door to anyone who needed help. I learned early to see people as people and to treat them with respect, no matter what their situation looked like.”
Those moments taught him to extend kindness without conditions. He shares, “Even if I did not agree with someone or understand their choices, I watched my parents love people right where they were. That stayed with me.”
A Day in Central Records
Devon begins his day at 7:30 in the morning with emails, voicemails, and the first round of requests that often signal what families need most. Throughout the day, he meets parents withdrawing students, graduates seeking transcripts, employers needing verification, and schools requesting records for children who have transferred.
“It is steady,” he says. “There is always someone who needs something. People get worried when they cannot find a record or when someone has already told them no. I try to give them a moment of relief.”
One of his recent interactions involved a former student from the class of 2019. “He needed a diploma so he could move forward with college and sports,” Devon explains. “They would not accept the copy he had, so instead of charging him, I just did it. If someone is trying to better their life, the last thing they need is another barrier.”
Those small choices change outcomes for people who often arrive overwhelmed. “It feels good when someone says, ‘Thank you, I was stressed about this.’ I just like helping people.”
The Journey to SDoL
Devon began at SDoL as a Personal Care Assistant at Fulton Elementary, supporting students with complex needs. His role required patience, calm, humor, and steady consistency. He remembers students who struggled with anger, fear, and trauma. He also remembers the breakthroughs.
“One student spit on me, punched me, even peed on me,” he says with a laugh. “But I loved working with him. He needed someone who would stay. Kids like that teach you a lot. They teach you what showing up really means.”
He carries many stories from those years. He recalls a young girl who struggled to regulate emotions and often acted out. “She was throwing books and hiding under desks,” he says. “Over time she learned to trust me. We had setbacks, but we also had days where she tried her best and felt proud of herself. Those moments mattered.”
He worked at Fulton, King, and Hamilton before supporting Central Records during summers. When the full-time position opened after a retirement, he applied. “They kept me around,” he jokes, “and here I still am.”
Guided by Faith, Purpose, and Family
A JP McCaskey graduate, Devon earned his BA in Biblical Studies and Business Administration from Lancaster Bible College and is currently pursuing a Masters in Ministry of Arts. His education reflects his commitment to service and the communities he supports both inside and outside the district.
“I believe I am called to help people,” he says. “I love giving someone information or resources that change their next step. Sometimes it is for school, sometimes for immigration, sometimes for work. It matters either way.”
Outside the district, Devon pastors, visits families, and cooks meals for Families in Transition and community members who need support. “Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days,” he says. “If someone needs a meal, they get one.”
The colleague who nominated Devon wrote, “Devon brings laughter everywhere he goes. He makes sure someone smiles before they walk away. He works well with everyone. He creates a space where people feel safe. He lifts the mood of the entire hallway.”
Another colleague shared, “He encourages former students with real wisdom. He gives them hope. He has helped people get records so they can start college or find work. He is also the person we call when something breaks. Enrollment would not be the same without him.”
Why SDoL Matters to Him
When asked what he loves about SDoL, Devon speaks immediately about community. “I love the diversity, it’s our greatest strength” he says. “People here come from everywhere. They have different stories and backgrounds, but they care about each other. We are not perfect, but we try. I think trying matters.”
He values leadership that reflects the community and staff who consistently work for students with compassion and patience. “We have people who care. You can feel it,” he says.
Devon wants families to know that Central Records exists to support them and that no question is too small or too complicated. “We may not have the answer right away, but we will look,” he says. “Whether it is proving someone graduated in 1960 or finding immunizations from 1980, we will do our best. We want to help you move forward.”
A Lasting Impact
Devon’s story is one of service shaped by family, strengthened by experience, and grounded in the belief that every person deserves care, respect, and support.
Thank you, Devon, for 18 years of dedicated service. You make SDoL better in ways that cannot be measured on paper but are felt in every hallway you touch.
#
If you need to request your transcripts, GED, or duplicate of your diploma, click here.